Base coat applicator



M y 1946. H. B. BRISTOL BASE COAT APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 21, 1942 HVVENTOR. HA Rm N B. BRISTOL HIS A TT EIVEY.

Patented May 21, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BASE COAT APPLICATOR Harlan B. Bristol, Burlingamc, Calif.

Application December 21, 1942, Serial No. 469,766

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a base coat applicator.

Ships are launched by means of launching ways which are heavy pieces of timber extending at an angle from under the hull of a ship into water. The ground ways are specially lubricated for each launching operation by covering the same with a heavy layer of a base coat on the top of which a layer of slip coat is applied. The base coat usually is a specially prepared hard substance resembling wax, which melts at about 150 F. The slip coat usually is a grease, tallow or the like substance.

The method of covering the ways with base coat substance consists of melting the latter and manually pouring on the ways, which have been prior thereto cleaned and dried and provided with the battens, aiixed to the sides of the timber so that the upper edge of said battens raises above the upper surface thereof certain distance, to prevent said substance from flowing over the side edges of the first and to act as a gauge for the thickness of the layer. Due to the fact that the melted substance is poured on an inclined surface, pouring is done in comparatively small amounts, allowing each of them to solidify into a thin layer, before the next pouring is made. When the layer is built to a proper thickness, it is then necessary to level the layer oil by scraping or by ironing the same. This operation is extremely slow and requires a considerable number of men to accomplish it.

In the result of the intermittent pourings of the base coat substance, the latter solidifies in form of layers, which peel off down to the timber during the launching operation, thus defeating the purpose for which said base coat was applied on said ways.

It is the object of this invention to provide a device for application of a base coat or similar substance on an inclined surface, such as launching ways, which will form a uniform solid layer of said substance on said surface in one continuous operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type described which will form a solid layer of a base coat or the like and give the same a smooth, even, fiat surface in one continuous operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type described which is automatic in operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device which is simple in construction, cheap in maintenance and eflicient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantageswill appear as the specification proceeds and the particular features of the invention will be specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which I Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal cross-section through the device.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the device. Fig. 3 is a partial transverse section of the device taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing a valve in open position.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the device taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a side view, partly in section, showing an adjustable telescoping post supporting a brush.

In detail, m device comprises a container l adapted to hold liquefied base coat substance and keep the same liquid. The container is preferably rectangular in shape and has a front wall 2, back. wall 3, side walls 4 and 5, a bottom 6 and a top 1.

The top, back and side walls and, if desired, the

front wall, are preferably heat insulated, the insulation being shown at 8, and have an outer wall 9 protecting the latter.

The device is supported by two front legs 12 and two rear legs H3. The latter are made adjustable to take care of different angles of declivity by telescoping the upper portion it thereof into the lower portion l5 and holding both together by screws it.

The device is adapted to be moved over a launching way ll comprising a timber l8 built at some angle of declivity from under the hull of a ship into water and having battens 20 aflixed to the sides of said timber so'that the upper edge of said battens is certain distance, equal to the desired thickness of the base coat layer, above the upper surface of said timber. The battens 20 serve to prevent the liquefied base coat substance from flowing over the side edges of said timber and serve as a gauge for the thickness of the base coat layer to be applied therebetween.

Means are provided for moving and propelling the device over and along said launching way ll, which means include rollers 2| attached to each leg i2 and I 3 and adapted to run over the upper edge of the battens 20. The rollers 2| carried by the rear legs l3 are afllxed to a common shaft 22 and are power driven by means of a motor 23 attached to the back wall of the device and operatively connected to said shaft by a belt 24 and a pulley 25 aflixed to said shaft. If necessary, a reduction gear box may be provided to reduce the speed of the motor for the purpose of driving the device at desired rate of speed up the launching way 2I. .An idler pulley I may be also provided to keep the belt 24 under desirable pressure all the time.

It is highly desirable to dry and pre-heat the\;, upper surface of the launching way before the application of liquefied base coat thereonto. For this urpose a heater 26 is provided in front of the device. It consists of a fan 21, driven by an electric motor 28 attached to the front wall 2, and a number of heating coils 29 located in close roximity to said fan. The coils 28, motor 28 and fan 21 are enclosed within a housing 30 which at its lower extremity carries a hood 3| which covers the width of the launching way. Air, driven by the fan 21, passes through the hot coils 29 and is forced downwardly onto the way, drying and warming up the. same. I

The container I-has a valve 35 by means of which the liquefied base coat substance is gradually and controllably poured from said container onto the way. The valve 35 is located in front -part of the container between the front wall 2 and a downwardly bent portion 36 of the bottom 5. It consists of a body 38 which represents an elongated piece of metal, composition, or other suitable material, and is V-shaped in cross-section. The body 38 has a central bore 39 and two vertical slots 40 and H, the first of which connects the container with the bore and the second provides an outer opening for the latter. A core 43 is retained insaid bore 89 with freedom of rotation therein, said core having a central longitudinal slot 44 therein the length of which is slightly less than the width of the way I1, One end of the core l3 protrudes beyond the body 38 and terminates with a handle 45 for rotating therewith. When the core 48 is so rotated that its slot l4 coincides with the slots 40 and ll in the body, a passage is established for the liquefled base coat substance to flow down onto the launching way II. The flow may be regulated by turning the slot ll slightly oil the vertical position.

In order to keep the base coat substance in liquid form, a number of heating elements I! is provided under the bottom 6 and on the rear side of the valve 35. The heating elements 41 are enclosed by a second bottom 48, under which is placed a layer of insulation 49 which is also close by an outer bottom 50.

When the liquefied substance reaches the warm upper surface of the timber I8, it has tendency to flow down the latter and will do so unless restrained. For that purpose and also for the purpose of evenly spreading said substance overthe width of said timber, a steel brush 52 is provided. The latter extends the whole width of the launching way and is so placed that it reaches the latter. The brush 52 is suspended on two adjustable telescoping posts 53 which are adjustably carried by the outer bottom 50 of the container as herein-after shall be explained in detail.

A second steel brush 55 is placed behind the brush 52 for the purpose of providing additional impedance to the flow of liquefied base coat substance. It hasbeen noted that said substance begins to solidify from the bottom up and when the same reaches the second brush, only the top will be in more or less liquid state, and therefore the second brush does not reach the upper surface of the timber I8, but is spaced therefrom. The second brush is supported in exactly the same way as the first one.

In the operation, the upper portions of the brushes 52 and 55 become clogged with the solidifled substance and they are changed from time to time.

Means are provided to further smooth up the surface of the base coat in form of a leveling plate 51. When the latter plate contacts the upper surface of the base coat, the same is getting viseous and ready to solidify, and the plate smooths up all the irregularities in the surface and gives a uniform thickness to the layer. The plate 51 is removably and adjustably suspended on the two telescoping posts 58 from the bottom of the container.

Still further back, a heated roller 60 is provided which is supported by two telescoping supports SI. Each of the latter is amxed to a cross-piece 82 adapted to be supported by a slide 63 extending all the length of the container I on each side thereof. The cross-piece 82 carries a bolt N, and by screwing the latter against the bottom 50 said cross-piece is firmly held in place. By moving the cross-pieces 82 along the slide 83 a proper position for the roller 60 is selected and by tightening of the bolts 84 the sameis heldy-in said position. v The brushes 52 and 55 and the plate 51 are also secured to the similar cross-pieces 62. By moving the latter in the slides 63 proper positions may be selected for each brush and the plate.

' The roller 60 is hollow inside and contains a suitable electric heating element 68. I provide a circular insulated conductor 81 on each end of the roller, each of which is electrically connected to said element 68. A sliding contact 68 carried by the support BI rides upon each conductor 01. By this arrangement electric current is constantly supplied to the element 66. The heated roller 60 moving along the way with the device melts' down small upwardly projecting irregularities on the surface and gives a smoothed glazed finish to the latter.

The operation of the device is as follows. The device is placed on the lowermost end of a launching way. The base coat substance is preferably melted in a separate container, although it may be melted in the container I, if sufflciently powerful heating elements I! are provided, and the liquefied substance is poured into the container I through an opening III for that purpose provided, which opening is normally closed with a cover II. The heater 28 and the heating elements 4! are placed in operation and thereafter the valve 35 is opened and the motor 23 is switched on. The device slowly moves upwardly heating and drying the upper surface of the-timber I8 ahead of the device, pouring the base coat substance thereon, cooling and smoothing said substance and forming a uniform solid layer of a base coat, which shall not break or peel by layers. From time to time additional amounts of liquified base coat substance are added in the container.

By adjusting the speed of forward motion of the device, the rate of discharge of the substance upon the way, and the temperature of the poured substance, a uniform solid layer of base coat can be produced under all weather conditions.

The device in addition to producing a uniform I solid layer of a base coat eliminates considerable labor.

If desired, an automatic control of the'temperatures of the air in the heater 25 and ofthe base coat substance in the container I may be provided without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts as well as in the details of the construction thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention as has been heretofore set forth and as is defined on the following claims; hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combination of the several parts in said device, as has been heretofore described, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. I am also aware that my device may be used for other purposes except those heretofore described, hence I do not intend to limit my invention to the above stated uses.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A base coat applicator for applying onto an inclined surface a layer of a substance adapted to solidify at certain temperature, comprising a container for storing said substance in liquefied form; means for dispensing said substance in said form onto said surface; means for retarding the downward fiow of said substance and for spreading evenly the same on said surface until said substance becomes viscous; and "means for smoothing the surface of said substance.

2. A base coat. applicator for applying onto an inclined surface a layer of substance adapted to solidify at certain temperature comprising a container for storing said substance in liquefied form; means for preheating and drying said inclined surface; means for dispensing said substance in said form onto said surface; means for spreading liquefied form; means for preheating and drying said way; a valve carried by the front end of the container, said valve having a discharge opening therein of the size substantially equal to the width of said way; a plurality of brushes arranged across the width of said way for spreading said substance evenly on said way and for retarding the downward fiow of said substance until it solidifies on said way; and means for smoothing the solidified surface of said substance.

4. A base coat applicator for applying a layer of base coat substance onto an inclined launching way having battens attached to the sides thereof so that said battens protrude above said way a distance equal to the thickness of said layer, said applicator comprising a container for storing said substance in liquefied form; a plurality of supporting legs depending from the container each terminating with a roller adapted to run on the upper surface of said battens; means for propelling said container up the said way; means arranged across said way for dispensing said substance from said container onto the upper surface of said way; means for spreading said substance evenly on said surface and retarding the downward flow of said substance on said surface until the same solidifies; and means for leveling, smoothing and forming the layer of said substance level with said battens.

5. A base coat applicator for applying onto an inclined launching way a layer of substance adapted to solidify at certain temperature comprising'a container adapted to be moved upwardly on said way; means on the container to preheat and dry said launching way ahead of the container; means for dispensing said substance onto said launching way, said last men'- tioned means immediately following the first mentioned means; means following said dispensing means, and carried by the container, for spreading said substance across said way and for retarding the downward flow of said substance until it becomes viscous; and means for smoothing and glazing the surface of said substance.

6. A base coat applicator for applying onto an inclined launching way a layer of substance adapted to solidify at certain temperature comprising a container adapted to be moved upwardly on said way; means on the container to preheat and dryv said launching way ahead of the container; means for dispensing said substance onto said launching way, said last mentioned means immediately following the first mentioned means; means following said dispensing means, and carried by the container, for spreading said substance across said way and for retarding the downward flow of said substance until it becomes viscous; a heated roller following said last mentioned means and carried by the container for smoothing and glazing the surface of said substance.

HARLAN B. BRISTOL. 

